Radiation curable inkjet printing methods

ABSTRACT

An inkjet printing method includes the steps of a) providing a first radiation curable composition curable by free radical polymerization or cationic polymerization; b) applying a layer of the first radiation curable composition on a substrate; c) curing the layer; d) jetting on the cured layer a second composition curable by a different polymerization than the first composition but selected from the group consisting of free radical polymerization and cationic polymerization; and e) curing the jetted second composition by a different polymerization than the first composition. The first composition includes a cationically polymerizable compound having at least one (meth)acrylate group present in the first curable composition in an amount of at least 25 wt % based upon the total weight of the first curable composition. An inkjet ink set may be used in the above inkjet printing method.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 371 National Stage Application ofPCT/EP2008/063830, filed Oct. 15, 2008. This application claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/982,475, filed Oct. 25,2007, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Inaddition, this application claims the benefit of European ApplicationNo. 07119177.9, filed Oct. 24, 2007, which is also incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to radiation curable inkjet ink sets and theiruse in inkjet printing methods.

2. Description of the Related Art

In inkjet printing, tiny drops of ink fluid are projected directly ontoan ink-receiver surface without physical contact between the printingdevice and the ink-receiver. The printing device stores the printingdata electronically and controls a mechanism for ejecting the dropsimage-wise. Printing is accomplished by moving a print head across theink-receiver or vice versa or both.

When jetting the inkjet ink onto an ink-receiver, the ink typicallyincludes a liquid vehicle and one or more solids, such as dyes orpigments and polymers. Ink compositions can be roughly divided in:

-   -   water-based, the drying mechanism involving absorption,        penetration and evaporation;    -   solvent-based, the drying primarily involving evaporation;    -   oil-based, the drying involving absorption and penetration;    -   hot melt or phase change, in which the ink is liquid at the        ejection temperature but solid at room temperature and wherein        drying is replaced by solidification; and    -   UV-curable, in which drying is replaced by polymerization.

It should be clear that the first three types of ink compositions aremore suitable for an absorbing ink-receiver, whereas hot melt inks andUV-curable inks can also be printed on non-absorbing ink-receivers. Dueto thermal requirements posed by hot melt inks on the substrates,especially radiation curable inks have gained the interest of theindustry in inkjet printing applications.

The behaviour and interaction of a UV-curable ink on a substantiallynon-absorbing ink-receiver was found to be quite complicated compared towater-based inks on absorbent ink-receivers. In particular, a good andcontrolled spreading of the ink on the ink-receiver proved to beproblematic and adhesion problems were observed on using different typesof non-absorbing ink-receivers.

One way to approach these problems is to develop and use different inksets for different types of substrates, but this is a not a preferredsolution since changing inks in the printer and print head is very timeconsuming and not really a viable solution for an industrial printingenvironment.

The adhesion may be influenced by using different polymerizablecompounds, surfactants, binders and/or organic solvents. U.S. Pat. No.6,814,791 (DOMINO PRINTING SCIENCES) discloses inkjet printing methodswherein the ink composition including methyl acetate as a solvent isprinted upon substrates of propylene and ethylene. The use of awell-chosen solvent usually results in partial swelling or dissolutionof the substrate surface which leads to better adhesion, but can alsocause problems of blocked nozzles in the printhead due to evaporation ofsolvent. Other solvents, such as 2-butoxyethyl acetate, are disclosed byWO 2005/047405 (VUTEK).

It is known that the adhesion of radiation curable inks can also bepromoted on polyvinyl chloride substrates when one or more monomers areused that are suitable for the swelling of the PVC substrate and whichare selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate,1,6-hexanediol diacrylate and N-vinyl caprolactam. However, adhesion onpolycarbonate substrates is promoted when one or more monomers are usedthat are suitable for the swelling of the polycarbonate substrate andwhich are selected from the group consisting of propoxylated neopentylglycol diacrylate, 2-phenoxylethyl acrylate, 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethylacrylate and polyethyleneglycol diacrylate. As a consequence one has tomake the “best possible” mixture of monomers suitable for both theswelling of polyvinyl chloride substrates and polycarbonate substrates.Often such a compromise, whereby acceptable adhesion is obtained onseveral ink-receivers by making a complex mixture of ingredients, has anegative effect on the dispersion stability of a pigmented inkjet ink.

Adhesion problems have also been associated with shrinkage of anink-layer after radiation curing. In this aspect, cationic inks havebeen regarded to be superior in comparison to free radical polymerizableinks. EP 1705229 A (FUJI) discloses cationically polymerizable inkjetinks exhibiting good adhesion and storage stability.

Specific monomers for cationic inks exhibiting improved adhesion aredisclosed by US 2004166253 (KONICA MINOLTA) wherein the curable ink-jetink includes an epoxy compound containing an alicyclic epoxy group andan epoxyfied fatty acid ester group.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,115 (AGFA) discloses radiation curable inkjet inkcompositions including radiation curable monomers containing vinyletherand acrylate functions, which can be cured both by cationicpolymerization and free radical polymerization.

Instead of adapting the inkjet inks, it has become the general approachto modify the surface chemistry of the ink-receiver either by apre-treatment such as plasma or corona treatment or by applying asuitable surface layer, a so-called primer.

Corona discharge treatment and plasma treatment increase the cost,complexity and maintenance of the equipment used to process thesubstrates. Substrates may contain significant impurities orirregularities that may interfere with the treatment of the substrate,and hence not result to the uniform spreading and adhesion of ink.

The other possibility is the application of a primer prior to jettingthe inkjet inks. Generally, the surface layer is coated and dried orcured before jetting the inkjet ink as, for example, in the inkjetprinting process in EP 1671805 A (AGFA) and US 2003021961 (3M), but itcan also remain a wet, un-cured surface layer as in WO 00/30856 (XAAR).

A single composition of a surface layer suitable for all the differentsubstrates is however not available. WO 2006/111707 (SUN CHEMICAL)discloses a process of ink jet printing in which:

-   i) a primer is applied to a substrate material;-   ii) ink is ink jet printed onto the primed substrate;-   iii) a characteristic relating to print quality is evaluated;-   iv) the composition of the primer is adjusted in dependence on the    evaluated characteristic relating to print quality; and-   v) the adjusted primer composition is applied to the substrate    material and ink is ink jet printed onto the primed substrate    material to give a printed product. Although it might be possible to    solve all adhesion problems with this approach, the method of    testing and adjusting the surface layer remains a time-consuming    method and not really a viable solution for an industrial printing    environment.

US 2003/199655 (NIPPON SHOKUBAI) discloses reactive diluent and curableresin compositions including vinylether acrylates.

WO 2007/048819 (HUNTSMAN) discloses low viscosity photocurablecompositions for rapid prototyping techniques containing (i) acationically curable component (ii) a free radically active component(iii) an antimony-free cationic photoinitiator and (v) a free radicalphotoinitiator.

Therefore, a need continues to exist for radiation curable inkjet inksthat adhere well to multiple substrates. A simple and fast method forimproving the adhesion is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a fast and simpleinkjet printing method exhibiting good adhesion on a plurality ofsubstrates.

Other preferred embodiments of the present invention provide an inkjetink set for obtaining improved adhesion on a plurality of substrates.

These and other preferred embodiments of the invention will becomeapparent from the description hereinafter.

In general one can observe three situations with regard to the adhesionof cationically and free radical polymerizable inkjet inks on asubstrate:

-   -   1. Both cationically and free radical polymerizable inkjet inks        adhere well to the substrate;    -   2. A cationically polymerizable inkjet ink adheres much better        to the substrate than a free radical polymerizable inkjet ink;        and    -   3. A free radical polymerizable inkjet ink adheres much better        to the substrate than a cationically polymerizable inkjet ink.

It was surprisingly found that a cationically polymerizable compoundhaving at least one (meth)acrylate functional group could beadvantageously used in a curable primer to improve adhesion, when thecurable primer was formulated to have a different polymerizationmechanism than the curable inks adhering poorly to the substrate.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are realized with aninkjet printing method as defined below.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are also realized with aninkjet ink set as defined below.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are also realized by theuse of inkjet ink as defined below.

Further advantages and preferred embodiments of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Definitions

The term “dye”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means acolorant having a solubility of 10 mg/L or more in the medium in whichit is applied and under the ambient conditions pertaining.

The term “pigment” is defined in DIN 55943, herein incorporated byreference, as a colorant that is practically insoluble in theapplication medium under the pertaining ambient conditions, hence havinga solubility of less than 10 mg/L therein.

The term “C.I.” is used in disclosing the present application as anabbreviation for Colour Index.

The term “alkyl” means all variants possible for each number of carbonatoms in the alkyl group i.e. for three carbon atoms: n-propyl andisopropyl; for four carbon atoms: n-butyl, isobutyl and tertiary-butyl;for five carbon atoms: n-pentyl, 1,1-dimethyl-propyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyland 2-methyl-butyl etc.

The term “primer” is used in disclosing the present application as asynonym for the first curable composition.

The term “actinic radiation” as used in disclosing the presentinvention, means electromagnetic radiation capable of initiatingphotochemical reactions.

The term “ultraviolet radiation” as used in disclosing the presentinvention, means electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range of100 to 400 nanometers.

-   Inkjet Printing Methods

An inkjet printing method includes the steps of:

-   a) providing a first radiation curable composition curable by free    radical polymerization or cationic polymerization;-   b) applying a layer of the first radiation curable composition on a    substrate;-   c) curing the layer; and-   d) jetting on the cured layer a second composition curable by a    different polymerization than the first composition but selected    from the group consisting of free radical polymerization and    cationic polymerization,    characterized in that the first composition includes a cationically    polymerizable compound having at least one (meth)acrylate group in    an amount of at least 25 wt %, more preferably at least 30 wt %    based upon the total weight of the first curable composition.

In a first preferred embodiment, radiation curable inks which arepolymerized by free radical polymerization are used in combination witha cationically polymerizable primer including a compound which ispolymerizable by both free radical polymerization and cationicpolymerization. On substrates where the free radical polymerizable inksadhere well to the substrate or even better than cationic inks wouldadhere, there is no need to use the cationically polymerizable primer.However, on substrates more suitable to be printed upon withcationically radiation curable inks because they exhibit better adheringimages to the substrate, the primer comes into play. The primer isapplied to the substrate as a layer, for example, by coating or jetting.By exposing the radiation curable primer to actinic radiation, cationicpolymerization of the compound which is polymerizable by both freeradical polymerization and cationic polymerization occurs. It isbelieved that after curing of the primer, uncured acrylate functionalgroups on the surface of the cured primer crosslink with the freeradical polymerizable compounds in the free radical curable ink jettedon top of the cured primer. On curing of the jetted ink, a good adhesivebond between the ink layer and the primer/substrate is obtained.

In a second preferred embodiment, radiation curable inks which arecationically polymerized are used in combination with a free radicalpolymerizable primer including a compound which is polymerizable by bothfree radical polymerization and cationic polymerization. On substrateswhere the cationically polymerizable inks adhere well to the substrateor even better than free radical inks would adhere, there is no need touse the free radical polymerizable primer. However, on substrates moresuitable to be printed upon with free radical radiation curable inksbecause they exhibit better adhering images to the substrate, the primercomes into play. The primer is applied to the substrate as a layer, forexample, by coating or jetting. By exposing the radiation curable primerto actinic radiation, free radical polymerization of the compound whichis polymerizable by both free radical polymerization and cationicpolymerization occurs. It is believed that after curing of the primer,cationically polymerizable functional groups on the surface of the curedprimer crosslink with the cationically polymerizable compounds in thecurable ink jetted on top of the cured primer. On curing of the jettedink, a good adhesive bond between the ink layer and the primer/substrateis obtained.

In a preferred embodiment, the first radiation curable composition is aclear composition, especially on opaque substrates.

In another preferred embodiment, the first radiation curable compositionis a white composition, preferably containing titanium dioxide as whitepigment. White primers can be advantageously used, for example, ontransparent substrates to enhance the contrast and the vividness ofcolour inks.

The first radiation curable composition may include at least onecomponent selected from the group consisting of a fluorescent compound,a phosphorescent compound, a thermochromic compound, an iridescentcompound and a magnetic particle. This is advantageous for incorporatinga security feature into the printed image without disturbing the printedimage under normal viewing conditions.

The substrate for a cationically polymerizable primer or first radiationcurable composition is preferably selected from the group consisting ofpolypropylene and polycarbonate.

The substrate for a free radical polymerizable primer or first radiationcurable composition is preferably selected from the group consisting ofpaper, polymethylmethacrylate and polyvinylchloride.

First Radiation Curable Compositions

The first radiation curable composition or primer is a composition whichcan be coated or printed upon the substrate. There are no reallimitations towards the coating or printing technique used to apply alayer of the first radiation curable composition.

Suitable coating techniques include dip coating, knife coating,extrusion coating, spin coating, slide hopper coating and curtaincoating.

Suitable printing techniques include offset printing, flexographicprinting, gravure, screen-printing and inkjet printing. In a preferredembodiment, the first radiation curable composition or primer is appliedby spraying or jetting, most preferably by inkjet printing.

The dry thickness of the cured layer of the first radiation curablecomposition is preferably at most 20 μm, more preferably at most 15 μmand most preferably at most 10 μm. The dry thickness of the cured layerof the first radiation curable composition is preferably between 1 and 8μm, more preferably between 2 and 6 μm.

In a preferred embodiment, the first radiation curable composition is aUV-curable composition.

In one preferred embodiment, the first radiation curable composition isprepared in-situ, i.e. in or at the inkjet printer by adding one or morephotoinitiators to a composition including the compound which ispolymerizable by both free radical polymerization and cationicpolymerization. Methods and apparatuses for preparing a mixture in-situin the inkjet printer are disclosed e.g. in EP 1935652 (AGFA GRAPHICS).

In another preferred embodiment, the first radiation curable compositioncontains at least one photo-initiator. If the first radiation curablecomposition is a cationically polymerizable first radiation curablecomposition, then the photoinitiator is one or more cationicphotoinitiators, such as photo-acid generating agents. If the firstradiation curable composition is a free radical polymerizable firstradiation curable composition, then the photoinitiator is one or morefree radical photoinitiators, i.e. Norrish Type I and/or Type IIphotoinitiators.

In the case of free radical polymerizable primer, the first radiationcurable composition may further also contain at least one co-initiatoror polymerization synergist. Frequently a tertiary amine compound isused as co-initiator. The amount of co-initiator or co-initiators is ingeneral from 0.01 to 50 wt %, preferably from 0.05 to 25 wt %,preferably from 0.1 to 10 wt %, based in each case on the total weightof the first radiation curable composition.

The first radiation curable composition may further also contain atleast one inhibitor.

The first radiation curable composition may further also contain atleast one surfactant.

The first radiation curable composition preferably does not contain anevaporable component such as an organic solvent or water. But sometimesit can be advantageous to incorporate a small amount of an organicsolvent in the primer to improve adhesion to the surface of theink-receiver after UV-curing. In this case, the added solvent can be anyamount in the range that does not cause problems of latency, solventresistance and VOC-emission, and is preferably 0.1-10.0 wt %, andparticularly preferably 0.1-5.0 wt %, each based on the total weight ofthe first radiation curable composition.

The viscosity of the first radiation curable composition is preferablysmaller than 100 mPa·s at 30° C. and at a shear rate of 100 s⁻¹. Theviscosity of the inkjet ink is preferably smaller than 30 mPa·s, morepreferably lower than 15 mPa·s, and most preferably between 2 and 10mPa·s at a shear rate of 100 s⁻¹ and a jetting temperature between 10and 70° C.

Second Radiation Curable Composition

The second radiation curable composition includes one or more colorants,more preferably colour pigments. The second radiation curablecomposition is here below also referred to as a radiation curable inkjetink.

In a preferred embodiment, a set of second radiation curablecompositions including colorants is used. Such a set of second radiationcurable compositions including colorants are here below also referred toas a radiation curable inkjet ink set.

In a preferred embodiment, the inkjet ink set includes a first radiationcurable composition curable by free radical polymerization or cationicpolymerization and a second composition curable by a differentpolymerization than the first composition but selected from the groupconsisting of free radical polymerization and cationic polymerizationcharacterized in that the first composition contains a cationicallypolymerizable compound having at least one (meth)acrylate group presentin the first curable composition in an amount of at least 25 wt % basedupon the total weight of the first curable composition. In one morepreferred embodiment of the inkset the first radiation curablecomposition contains titanium dioxide.

In a preferred embodiment, the inkjet ink set includes a radiationcurable composition A curable by free radical polymerization, aradiation curable composition B curable by cationic polymerization and aradiation curable inkjet ink wherein the radiation curable compositionsA and B contain a cationically polymerizable compound having at leastone (meth)acrylate group present in the first curable composition in anamount of at least 25 wt % based upon the total weight of the firstcurable composition.

The radiation curable inkjet ink set preferably includes at least oneyellow curable inkjet ink (Y), at least one cyan curable inkjet ink (C)and at least one magenta curable inkjet ink (M) and preferably also atleast one black curable inkjet ink (K). The curable CMYK inkjet ink setmay also be extended with extra inks such as red, green, blue, and/ororange to further enlarge the colour gamut of the image. The CMYK inkset may also be extended by the combination of full density and lightdensity inks of both colour inks and/or black inks to improve the imagequality by lowered graininess. The curable CMYK inkjet ink set may alsobe extended with extra inks for spot colors, such as silver or gold,which are important in certain inkjet printing applications, e.g. signand displays.

In a preferred embodiment, the radiation curable inkjet ink set includesa colourless radiation curable inkjet ink, for example, for influencingthe glossiness of a printed image.

In a very preferred embodiment, the radiation curable inkjet ink setincludes at least one first curable composition and at least one secondcurable composition.

In one very preferred embodiment, the radiation curable inkjet ink setincludes at least one cationically polymerizable first curablecomposition and at least one free radical polymerizable second curablecomposition. A preferred embodiment thereof is a radiation curableinkjet ink set including a colourless and/or a white cationicallypolymerizable inkjet ink and at least one cyan free radicalpolymerizable inkjet ink, at least one magenta free radicalpolymerizable inkjet ink, at least one yellow free radical polymerizableinkjet ink and at least one black free radical polymerizable inkjet ink.

In one very preferred embodiment, the radiation curable inkjet ink setincludes at least one free radical polymerizable first curablecomposition and at least one cationically polymerizable second curablecomposition. A preferred embodiment thereof is a radiation curableinkjet ink set including a colourless and/or a white free radicalpolymerizable inkjet ink and at least one cyan cationicallypolymerizable inkjet ink, at least one magenta cationicallypolymerizable inkjet ink, at least one yellow cationically polymerizableinkjet ink and at least one black cationically polymerizable inkjet ink.

In a preferred embodiment, the radiation curable inkjet ink set is aUV-curable inkjet ink set.

The radiation curable inkjet inks contain at least one photo-initiator.If the primer is a cationically polymerizable first radiation curablecomposition, then the radiation curable inkjet inks include a freeradical photoinitiator, i.e. a Norrish Type I or Type II photoinitiator.If the primer is a free radical polymerizable first radiation curablecomposition, then the radiation curable inkjet inks include a cationicphotoinitiator, such as a photo-acid generating agent.

In the case of free radical polymerizable inkjet inks, they may furtheralso contain at least one co-initiator or polymerization synergist.Frequently a tertiary amine compound is used as co-initiator. The amountof co-initiator or co-initiators is in general from 0.01 to 50 wt %,preferably from 0.05 to 25 wt %, preferably from 0.1 to 10 wt %, basedin each case on the total weight of the curable inkjet ink.

The radiation curable inkjet inks may further also contain at least oneinhibitor.

The radiation curable inkjet inks may further also contain at least onesurfactant.

The radiation curable inkjet ink preferably does not contain anevaporable component such as an organic solvent or water.

The radiation curable inkjet ink may contain a dispersion synergist toimprove the dispersion quality of the colour pigment in the inkjet ink.Preferably, at least the magenta inkjet ink contains a dispersionsynergist. A mixture of dispersion synergists may be used to furtherimprove dispersion stability.

The viscosity of the inkjet ink is preferably smaller than 100 mPa·s at30° C. and at a shear rate of 100 s⁻¹. The viscosity of the inkjet inkis preferably smaller than 30 mPa·s, more preferably lower than 15mPa·s, and most preferably between 2 and 10 mPa·s at a shear rate of 100s⁻¹ and a jetting temperature between 10 and 70° C.

Compounds Polymerizable by Both Free Radical and Cationic Polymerization

The compounds polymerizable by both free radical and cationicpolymerization have at least one functional group which is polymerizableby free radical polymerization, such as an acrylate, and at least onefunctional group which is cationically polymerizable, such as avinylether, an epoxide or an oxetane.

A preferred class of compounds polymerizable by both free radical andcationic polymerization are vinyl ether acrylates. Preferred compoundspolymerizable by both free radical and cationic polymerization are thosedisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,115 (AGFA), incorporated herein byreference. Particularly preferred compounds are2-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)ethyl (meth)acrylate, most preferably the compoundis 2-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)ethyl acrylate.

The compound polymerizable by both free radical polymerization andcationic polymerization is preferably a radiation curable monomerrepresented by Formula (I):

wherein,

-   R¹ represents hydrogen, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl    group,-   L represents a linking group including at least one carbon atom,-   X represents O, S or NR² wherein R² has the same meaning as R¹;-   when X=NR², L and R² may form together a ring system, and n and m    independently represent a value from 1 to 5.

In a preferred embodiment, the compound according to Formula (I) has R¹representing hydrogen, X representing O, and n representing a valueof 1. The value of m is preferably 1, 2 or 3. L preferably includes 2, 3or 4 carbon atoms.

The compound polymerizable by both free radical polymerization andcationic polymerization used in the inkjet printing method according toa preferred embodiment of the present invention is preferably selectedfrom the group consisting of the monomers listed in

TABLE 1 I.1 

I.2 

I.3 

I.4 

I.5 

I.6 

I.7 

I.8 

I.9 

I.10

I.11

I.12

I.13

I.14

I.15

I.16

I.17

I.18

I.19

I.20

I.21

I.22

I.23

Other suitable vinyl ether (meth)acrylates are those disclosed incolumns 3 and 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,767,9890 B (NIPPON SHOKUBAI),incorporated herein by specific reference.

The compounds of Table 1 can be prepared according to standard syntheticmethods known to those skilled in the art of organic synthesis. Suitablesynthetic methods are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,115 (AGFA) andU.S. Pat. No. 6,767,9890 B (NIPPON SHOKUBAI).

The compound polymerizable by both free radical and cationicpolymerization is preferably present in an amount of at least 20 wt %,more preferably at least 30 wt % and most preferably at least 40 wt %based upon the total weight of the first radiation curable compositionused in the inkjet printing method according to a preferred embodimentof the present invention.

A single compound or a mixture of compounds polymerizable by both freeradical and cationic polymerization can be used in the first radiationcurable composition used in the inkjet printing method according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

One or more compounds polymerizable by both free radical and cationicpolymerization may also be present in the second radiation curablecomposition used in the inkjet printing method according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

Other Monomers and Oligomers

Any monomer or oligomer may be used in the first and second radiationcurable compositions. However, preferably the monomers and/or oligomersin the first radiation curable composition polymerize in the same manneras the compound which is polymerizable by both free radicalpolymerization and cationic polymerization. This means that for a freeradical polymerizable first radiation curable composition that the othermonomers and/or oligomers are also free radical polymerizable. In thecase of a cationically polymerizable first radiation curablecomposition, the other monomers and/or oligomers are also cationicallypolymerizable.

A combination of monomers and/or oligomers may also be used. Themonomers and/or oligomers may possess different degrees offunctionality, and a mixture including combinations of mono-, di-, tri-and higher functionality monomers and/or oligomers may be used. Theviscosity of the radiation curable composition may be adjusted byvarying the ratio between the monomers and oligomers.

Any polymerizable compound commonly known in the art may be employed andinclude monofunctional and/or polyfunctional acrylate monomers,oligomers or prepolymers, such as isoamyl acrylate, stearyl acrylate,lauryl acrylate, octyl acrylate, decyl acrylate, isoamylstyl acrylate,isostearyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl-diglycol acrylate, 2-hydroxybutylacrylate, 2-acryloyloxyethylhexahydrophthalic acid, butoxyethylacrylate, ethoxydiethylene glycol acrylate, methoxydiethylene glycolacrylate, methoxypolyethylene glycol acrylate, methoxypropylene glycolacrylate, phenoxyethyl acrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate, isobornylacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate,2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl acrylate, vinyl ether acrylate, vinyl etherethoxy acrylate, 2-acryloyloxyethylsuccinic acid,2-acryloyxyethylphthalic acid, 2-acryloxyethyl-2-hydroxyethyl-phthalicacid, lactone modified flexible acrylate, and t-butylcyclohexylacrylate, triethylene glycol diacrylate, tetraethylene glycoldiacrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylate, dipropylene glycoldiacrylate, tripropylene glycol diacrylate, polypropylene glycoldiacrylate, 1,4-butanediol diacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate,1,9-nonanediol diacrylate, neopentyl glycol diacrylate,dimethylol-tricyclodecane diacrylate, bisphenol A EO (ethylene oxide)adduct diacrylate, bisphenol A PO (propylene oxide) adduct diacrylate,hydroxypivalate neopentyl glycol diacrylate, propoxylated neopentylglycol diacrylate, alkoxylated dimethyloltricyclodecane diacrylate andpolytetramethylene glycol diacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, EOmodified trimethylolpropane triacrylate, tri (propylene glycol)triacrylate, caprolactone modified trimethylolpropane triacrylate,pentaerythritol triacrylate, pentaerithritol tetraacrylate,pentaerythritolethoxy tetraacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate,ditrimethylolpropane tetraacrylate, glycerinpropoxy triacrylate, andcaprolactam modified dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, or an N-vinylamidesuch as, N-vinylcaprolactam or N-vinylformamide; or acrylamide or asubstituted acrylamide, such as acryloylmorpholine.

Other suitable monofunctional acrylates include caprolactone acrylate,cyclic trimethylolpropane formal acrylate, ethoxylated nonyl phenolacrylate, isodecyl acrylate, isooctyl acrylate, octyldecyl acrylate,alkoxylated phenol acrylate, tridecyl acrylate and alkoxylatedcyclohexanone dimethanol diacrylate.

Other suitable difunctional acrylates include alkoxylated cyclohexanonedimethanol diacrylate, alkoxylated hexanediol diacrylate, dioxane glycoldiacrylate, dioxane glycol diacrylate, cyclohexanone dimethanoldiacrylate, diethylene glycol diacrylate and neopentyl glycoldiacrylate.

Other suitable trifunctional acrylates include propoxylated glycerinetriacrylate and propoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate.

Other higher functional acrylates include di-trimethylolpropanetetraacrylate, dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, ethoxylatedpentaerythritol tetraacrylate, methoxylated glycol acrylates andacrylate esters.

Furthermore, methacrylates corresponding to the above-mentionedacrylates may be used with these acrylates. Of the methacrylates,methoxypolyethylene glycol methacrylate, methoxytriethylene glycolmethacrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, phenoxyethyl methacrylate,cyclohexyl methacrylate, tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate, vinylether ethoxy methacrylate, and polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate arepreferred due to their relatively high sensitivity and higher adhesionto an ink-receiver surface.

Furthermore, polymerizable oligomers which may be used, include epoxyacrylates, aliphatic urethane acrylates, aromatic urethane acrylates,polyester acrylates, and straight-chained acrylic oligomers.

Suitable examples of styrene compounds are styrene, p-methylstyrene,p-methoxystyrene, β-methylstyrene, p-methyl-β-methylstyrene,α-methylstyrene and p-methoxy-β-methylstyrene.

Suitable examples of vinylnaphthalene compounds are 1-vinylnaphthalene,α-methyl-1-vinylnaphthalene, β-methyl-1-vinylnaphthalene,4-methyl-1-vinylnaphthalene and 4-methoxy-1-vinylnaphthalene.

Suitable examples of N-vinyl compounds are N-vinylcarbazole,N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinylindole, N-vinylpyrrole, N-vinylphenothiazine,N-vinylacetoanilide, N-vinylethylacetoamide, N-vinylsuccinimide,N-vinylphthalimide, N-vinylcaprolactam and N-vinylimidazole.

The cationically polymerizable compound can be one or more monomers, oneor more oligomers or a combination thereof.

Suitable examples of cationically curable compounds can be found inAdvances in Polymer Science, 62, pages 1 to 47 (1984) by J. V. Crivello.

The cationic curable compound may contain at least one olefin,thioether, acetal, thioxane, thietane, aziridine, N-, O-, S- orP-heterocycle, aldehyde, lactam or cyclic ester group.

Examples of cationic polymerizable compounds include monomers and/oroligomers epoxides, vinyl ethers, styrenes, oxetanes, oxazolines,vinylnaphthalenes, N-vinyl heterocyclic compounds, tetrahydrofurfurylcompounds.

The cationically polymerizable monomer can be mono-, di- ormulti-functional or a mixture thereof.

Suitable cationic curable compounds having at least one epoxy group arelisted in the “Handbook of Epoxy Resins” by Lee and Neville, McGraw HillBook Company, New York (1967) and in “Epoxy Resin Technology” by P. F.Bruins, John Wiley and Sons New York (1968).

Examples of cationic curable compounds having at least one epoxy groupinclude 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether,3-(bis(glycidyloxymethyl)methoxy)-1,2-propane diol, limonene oxide,2-biphenyl glycidyl ether,3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3′,4′-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate,epichlorohydrin-bisphenol S based epoxides, epoxidized styrenics andmore epichlorohydrin-bisphenol F and A based epoxides and epoxidizednovolaks.

Suitable epoxy compounds including at least two epoxy groups in themolecule are alicyclic polyepoxide, polyglycidyl ester of polybasicacid, polyglycidyl ether of polyol, polyglycidyl ether ofpolyoxyalkylene glycol, polyglycidyl ester of aromatic polyol,polyglycidyl ether of aromatic polyol, urethane polyepoxy compound, andpolyepoxy polybutadiene.

Examples of cycloaliphatic bisepoxides include copolymers of epoxidesand hydroxyl components such as glycols, polyols, or vinyl ether, suchas 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3′,4′-epoxycyclohexylcarboxylate;bis(3,4-epoxycylohexylmethyl) adipate; limonene bisepoxide; diglycidylester of hexahydrophthalic acid.

Examples of vinyl ethers having at least one vinyl ether group includen-butyl vinyl ether, isobutyl vinyl ether, octadecyl vinyl ether,cyclohexyl vinyl ether, butanediol divinyl ether, hydroxyl butyl vinylether, cyclohexane dimethanol monovinyl ether, phenyl vinyl ether,p-methylphenyl vinyl ether, p-methoxyphenyl vinyl ether, α-methylphenylvinyl ether, β-methylisobutyl vinyl ether and β-chloroisobutyl vinylether, diethyleneglycol divinyl ether, triethylene glycol divinyl ether,n-propyl vinyl ether, isopropyl vinyl ether, dodecyl vinyl ether,diethylene glycol monovinyl ether, cyclohexanedimethanol divinyl ether,4-(vinyloxy)butyl benzoate, bis[4-(vinyl oxy)butyl]adipate, bis[4-(vinyloxy)butyl]succinate, 4-(vinyloxy methyl)cyclohexylmethyl benzoate,bis[4-(vinyloxy)butyl]isophthalate,bis[4-(vinyloxymethyl)cyclohexylmethyl]glutarate,tris[4-(vinyloxy)butyl]trimellitate, 4-(vinyloxy)butyl steatite,bis[4-(vinyloxy)butyl]hexanediylbiscarbamate,bis[4-(vinyloxy)methyl]cyclohexyl]methyl]terephthalate,bis[4-(vinyloxy)methyl]cyclohexyl]methyl]isophthalate,bis[4-(vinyloxy)butyl](4-methyl-1,3-phenylene)-biscarbamate,bis[4-vinyloxy)butyl](methylenedi-4,1-phenylene) biscarbamate and3-amino-1-propanol vinyl ether.

Suitable examples of oxetane compounds having at least one oxetane groupinclude 3-ethyl-3-hydroloxymethyl-1-oxetane, the oligomeric mixture1,4-bis[3-ethyl-3-oxetanyl methoxy)methyl]benzene,3-ethyl-3-phenoxymethyl-oxetane, bis ([1-ethyl(3-oxetanyl)]methyl)ether,3-ethyl-3-[(2-ethylhexyloxy)methyl]oxetane, 3-ethyl-[(tri-ethoxysilylpropoxy)methyl]oxetane and 3,3-dimethyl-2(p-methoxy-phenyl)-oxetane.

Photoinitiators

The first and second radiation curable compositions contain aphotoinitiator or photoinitiator system such as, for example, one ormore photoinitiators and one or more co-initiators. The photo-initiatoror photoinitiator system absorbs light and is responsible for theproduction of initiating species, such as free radicals and cations.Free radicals and cations are high-energy species that inducepolymerization of monomers, oligomers and polymers and withpolyfunctional monomers and oligomers thereby also inducingcross-linking.

Irradiation with actinic radiation may be realized in two steps bychanging wavelength or intensity. In such cases it is preferred to use 2types of photoinitiator together.

Free radical photoinitiators can act as a Norrish type I or a Norrishtype II initiator. Tertiary amines are today admixed to free radicalpolymerizable radiation curable formulations for two main reasons:

-   i) They counteract air inhibition, provided that the particular    amine contains abstractable α-hydrogens, by formation of radicals,    which can participate and trigger radical polymerisation of acrylic    groups. Tertiary amines can therefore be used together with Norrish    type I photoinitiators to reduce air inhibition and thereby increase    cure speed; and-   ii) They can act as co-initiators together with ketones of the    benzophenone type, wherein the excited keto groups abstract a    hydrogen from the amine, whereby radicals are formed promoting    radical polymerisation of acrylic groups and the like. This is the    so called Norrish type II of photopolymerization.

A preferred Norrish type I-initiator is selected from the groupconsisting of benzoinethers, benzil ketals, α,α-dialkoxyacetophenones,α-hydroxyalkylphenones, α-aminoalkylphenones, acylphosphine oxides,acylphosphine sulphides, α-haloketones, α-halosulfones andα-phenylglyoxalates.

A preferred Norrish type II-initiator is selected from the groupconsisting of benzophenones, thioxanthones, 1,2-diketones andanthraquinones. A preferred co-initiator is selected from the groupconsisting of an aliphatic amine, an aromatic amine and a thiol.Tertiary amines, heterocyclic thiols and 4-dialkylamino-benzoic acid areparticularly preferred as co-initiator.

Suitable photo-initiators are disclosed by CRIVELLO, J. V., et al.;Chemistry & technology of UV & EB Formulation for Coatings, Inks &Paints. Volume III: Photoinitiators for Free Radical, Cationic & AnionicPhotopolymerisation, 2nd edition, John Wiley & Sons Ltd in associationwith SITA Technology Ltd, London, UK, 1998 edited by Dr. G. Bradley;ISBN 0471 978922, page 287-294.

Specific examples of photo-initiators may include, but are not limitedto, the following compounds or combinations thereof: benzophenone andsubstituted benzophenones, 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone,thioxanthones such as isopropylthioxanthone,2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one,2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-(4-morpholinophenyl) butan-1-one, benzildimethylketal, bis(2,6-dimethylbenzoyl)-2,4,4-trimethylpentylphosphineoxide, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide,2-methyl-1-[4-(methylthio) phenyl]-2-morpholinopropan-1-one,2,2-dimethoxy-1,2-diphenylethan-1-one or 5,7-diiodo-3-butoxy-6-fluorone.

Suitable commercial photo-initiators include IRGACURE™ 127, IRGACURE™184, IRGACURE™ 500, IRGACURE™ 907, IRGACURE™ 369, IRGACURE™ 1700,IRGACURE™ 651, IRGACURE™ 819, IRGACURE™ 1000, IRGACURE™ 1300, IRGACURE™1870, DAROCUR™ 1173, DAROCUR™ 2959, DAROCUR™ 4265 and DAROCUR™ ITXavailable from CIBA SPECIALTY CHEMICALS; Genopol TX from RAHN AG;Lucerin TPO available from BASF AG, ESACURE™ KT046, Esacure™ KIP150,ESACURE™ KT37 and ESACURE™ EDB available from LAMBERT; H-NU™ 470 andH-NU™ 470X available from SPECTRA GROUP Ltd.

Suitable cationic photo-initiators include compounds, which form aproticacids or Bronstead acids upon exposure to ultraviolet and/or visiblelight sufficient to initiate polymerization. The photo-initiator usedmay be a single compound, a mixture of two or more active compounds, ora combination of two or more different compounds, i.e. co-initiators.Non-limiting examples of suitable cationic photo-initiators arearyldiazonium salts, diaryliodonium salts, triarylsulphonium salts,triarylselenonium salts and the like.

Suitable commercial cationic photoinitiators include R-GEN™ 1130, R-GEN™BF-1172, R-GEN™ 261, CHIVACURE™ 1176 and CHIVACURE™ 1190 from ChitecTechnology Co., Ltd.; IRGACURE™ 250 from Ciba Specialty Products;UV9387C and UV9380C from GE Silicones; CYRACURE™ Photoinitiator UVI-6976and UVI-6992 from The Dow Chemical Company; OMNICAT™ series from IGMResins, including OMNICAT 432™ (sulfonium type), OMNICAT™ 440 (iodoniumtype), OMNICAT™ 445 (iodonium type), OMNICAT™ 550 and OMNICAT™ 650(polymeric type); ESACURE™ 1064, ESACURE™ 1187 and ESACURE™ 1188 fromLamberti S.p.A.; Adeka OPTOMER™ SP series of aromatic sulfonium typescationic photo-initiatiors from Adeka Corporation, e.g. Adeka OPTOMER™SP-152; and OMPH076 from ABCR Gmbh & Co. KG, a blend of an aromaticsulfonium and aromatic thioether (available by B & S Specialties BVunder the tradename Sarcat KI85).

The radiation curable compositions may contain a photo-initiator systemcontaining one or more photo-initiators and one or more sensitizers thattransfer energy to the photo-initiator(s). Suitable sensitizers includephotoreducible xanthene, fluorene, benzoxanthene, benzothioxanthene,thiazine, oxazine, coumarin, pyronine, porphyrin, acridine, azo, diazo,cyanine, merocyanine, diarylmethyl, triarylmethyl, anthraquinone,phenylenediamine, benzimidazole, fluorochrome, quinoline, tetrazole,naphthol, benzidine, rhodamine, indigo and/or indanthrene dyes. Theamount of the sensitizer is in general from 0.01 to 15 wt %, preferablyfrom 0.05 to 5 wt %, based in each case on the total weight of theradiation curable composition.

For safety reasons, in particular for food packaging applications,preferably diffusion hindered photoinitiators and/or co-initiators areused.

A diffusion hindered initiator is preferably selected from the groupconsisting of non-polymeric di- or multifunctional initiators,oligomeric or polymeric initiators and polymerisable initiators. Morepreferably the diffusion hindered photoinitiator is selected from thegroup consisting of polymeric initiators and polymerizable initiators.

A preferred amount of diffusion hindered photoinitiator is 0.3-50 wt %,and more preferably 1-15 wt % of the total weight of the radiationcurable composition or inkjet ink.

The diffusion hindered photoinitiator may contain one or morephotoinitiating functional groups derived from a Norrish typeI-photoinitiator selected from the group consisting of benzoinethers,benzil ketals, α,α-dialkoxyacetophenones, α-hydroxyalkylphenones,α-aminoalkylphenones, acylphosphine oxides, acylphosphine sulphides,α-haloketones, α-halosulfones and α-halophenylglyoxalates.

The diffusion hindered photoinitiator may contain one or morephotoinitiating functional groups derived from a Norrish typeII-initiator selected from the group consisting of benzophenones,thioxanthones, 1,2-diketones and anthraquinones.

Other photoinitiators suitable for the photoinitiating functional groupsin preparing diffusion hindered photoinitiators are disclosed byCRIVELLO, J. V., et al.; Chemistry & technology of UV & EB Formulationfor Coatings, Inks & Paints. Volume III: Photoinitiators for FreeRadical, Cationic & Anionic Photopolymerisation, 2nd edition, John Wiley& Sons

Ltd in association with SITA Technology Ltd, London, UK, 1998 edited byDr. G. Bradley; ISBN 0471 978922, page 287-294.

Difunctional and Multifunctional Photoinitiators

Typical non-polymeric di- and multifunctional initiators have beendisclosed in WO 2005/040083 (LAMBERTI S.P.A), WO 2004/099262 (CIBASPECIALTY CHEMICALS) and Burrows et al., Surface Coatings International,Part B: Coatings Transactions 87(B2), 127-135 (2004) and by Ye et al.,Polymer 47(13), 4603-4612 (2006).

Suitable non-polymeric multifunctional initiators are given below inTable 2 without being limited thereto.

TABLE 2 INI-Al

INI-A2

INI-A3

INI-A4

INI-A5

INI-A6

INI-A7

INI-A8

INI-A9

 INI-A10

In comparison with their monofunctional analogues, it was observed thatnon-polymeric di- and multifunctional photoinitiators resulted in farless detectable extractables. Another advantage, especially for jettableradiation curable compositions and inkjet inks, is that non-polymericdi- and multifunctional photoinitiators have limited influence on theviscosity, contrary to the polymeric photoinitiators.

Polymeric Photoinitiators

Suitable polymeric initiators have been recently reviewed by Hrdlovic P.(Polymer News, 30(6), 179-182 (2005) and Polymer News, 30(8), 248-250(2005)) and Corrales T. (Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A:Chemistry 159 (2003), 103-114). Further interesting polymericphotoinitiators can be found in CRIVELLO, J. V., et al.; Chemistry &technology of UV & EB Formulation for Coatings, Inks & Paints. VolumeIII: Photoinitiators for Free Radical, Cationic & AnionicPhotopolymerisation, 2nd edition, John Wiley & Sons Ltd in associationwith SITA Technology Ltd, London, UK, 1998 edited by Dr. G. Bradley;ISBN 0471 978922, page 208-224.

Particularly suitable polymeric and oligomeric photoinitiators have beendisclosed by Bertens et al. (RadTech Europe 05, Conference Proceedings(2005) 1, 473-478), by WO 03/033452 (COATES BROTHERS) and by WO03/033492 (COATES BROTHERS).

For reasons of obtaining low viscosity, the preferred polymericarchitecture used in jettable radiation curable compositions and inkjetinks is a dendritic polymeric architecture, more preferably ahyperbranched polymeric architecture. Preferred hyperbranched polymericphotoinitiators for the radiation curable compositions according to thepresent invention are those disclosed in US 2006014851 (AGFA) and US2006014853 (AGFA) incorporated herein as a specific reference.

Suitable polymeric and oligomeric initiators are given below in Table 3without being limited thereto. The hyperbranched structures (INI-B1,INI-B4 and INI-B11) are illustrated with one specific molecular weightand degree of substitution out of the mixture for the sake of clarity.

TABLE 3 INI-B1

INI-B2

INI-B3

INI-B4

INI-B5

INI-B6

INI-B7

INI-B8

INI-B9

INI-B10

INI-B11

Polymerizable Photoinitiators

Suitable polymerizable photoinitiators have been disclosed in DE 3534645(MERCK) and EP 0377191 A (BASF). Other suitable polymerizablephotoinitiators have been disclosed by Baeumer et al. (RADCUR '86,Conference Proceedings (1986), 4/43-4/55), Ruhlmann et al. (EuropeanPolymer Journal, 28(9), 1063-1067 (1992)) and Allen et al. (Journal ofPhotochemistry and Photobiology, A: Chemistry: 130(1,2), 185-189(1997)).

Preferred polymerizable photoinitiators are given below in Table 4,without being limited thereto.

TABLE 4 INI-Cl

INI-C2

INI-C3

INI-C4

INI-C5

INI-C6

INI-C7

INI-C8

INI-C9

 INI-C10

 INI-C11

 INI-C12

 INI-C13

Co-Initiators

In a preferred embodiment the one or more co-initiators are diffusionhindered.

A diffusion hindered co-initiator is preferably selected from the groupconsisting of non-polymeric di- or multifunctional co-initiators,oligomeric or polymeric co-initiators and polymerisable co-initiators.More preferably the diffusion hindered photoinitiator is selected fromthe group consisting of polymeric co-initiators and polymerisableco-initiators

A suitable polymeric co-initiator is GENOPOL™ AB1 from RAHN.

A preferred diffusion hindered co-initiator is a polymeric co-initiatorhaving a dendritic polymeric architecture, more preferably ahyperbranched polymeric architecture. Preferred hyperbranched polymericphotoinitiators for the radiation curable compositions according to thepresent invention are those disclosed in US 2006014848 (AGFA)incorporated herein as a specific reference.

Another preferred diffusion hindered co-initiator is one or morepolymerizable co-initiators.

A preferred polymerizable co-initiator is a co-initiator according toFormula (I):

wherein,

-   R¹ and R² are independently selected from the group consisting of an    alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aralkyl group,    an alkaryl group, an aryl group and a heteroaryl group;-   R³ to R⁶ are independently selected from the group consisting of    hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an    acyl group, a thioalkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen, an    aralkyl group, an alkaryl group, an aryl group and a heteroaryl    group;-   R⁷ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an aldehyde    group, a ketone group, an ester group, an amide group, an acyl    group, a thioalkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen, a nitrile    group, a sulphonate group, a sulphonamide group, an alkyl group, an    alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkaryl group,    an aryl group and a heteroaryl group;-   R¹ and R², R¹ and R³, R² and R⁵, R³ and R⁴, R⁴ and R⁷, R⁵ and R⁶,    and R⁶ and R⁷ may represent the necessary atoms to form a 5 to 8    membered ring; and with the proviso that the aromatic amine has at    least one alfa hydrogen; and-   at least one of R¹ to R⁷ includes a polymerizable ethylenically    unsatured functional group selected from the group consisting of    acrylate, substituted acrylate, methacrylate, styrene, acrylamide,    methacrylamide, allyl ester, allyl ether, vinyl ester, vinyl ether,    fumarate, maleate, maleimide and vinyl nitrile. In the polymerizable    co-initiator, preferably R⁷ represents an electron withdrawing group    selected from the group consisting of an aldehyde, a ketone, an    ester and an amide, and more preferably R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ all    represent hydrogen.

The alkyl groups, the alkenyl groups, the alkynyl groups, the acylgroups, the thioalkyl groups, the alkoxy groups, the aralkyl groups, thealkaryl groups, the aryl groups and the heteroaryl groups used for R¹ toR⁷ can be substituted or unsubstituted groups, i.e. substituted orunsubstituted alkyl groups, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl groups,substituted or unsubstituted alkynyl group, substituted or unsubstitutedacyl groups, substituted or unsubstituted thioalkyl groups, substitutedor unsubstituted alkoxy groups, substituted or unsubstituted aralkylgroups, substituted or unsubstituted alkaryl groups, substituted orunsubstituted aryl groups and substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylgroups may be used.

In a preferred embodiment, the polymerizable co-initiator corresponds toFormula (II):

wherein,

-   R¹ to R⁶ have the same meaning as defined in claim 1;-   X is selected from the group consisting of O, S and NR⁹;-   R⁸ and R⁹ are independently selected from the group consisting of    hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an    aralkyl group, an alkaryl group, an aryl group and a heteroaryl    group;-   R¹ and R², R¹ and R³, R² and R⁵, R³ and R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶, R⁴ and R⁸,    and R⁶ and R⁸ may represent the necessary atoms to form a 5 to 8    membered ring; and at least one of R¹ to R⁶ and R⁸ includes a    polymerizable ethylenically unsatured functional group selected from    the group consisting of acrylate, substituted acrylate,    methacrylate, styrene, acrylamide, methacrylamide, allyl ester,    allyl ether, vinyl ester, vinyl ether, fumarate, maleate, maleimide    and vinyl nitrile. In the polymerizable co-initiator, preferably R³,    R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ all represent hydrogen.

In one preferred embodiment of the polymerizable co-initiator havingFormula (II), R1 represents methyl or ethyl and R² includes apolymerizable ethylenically unsatured functional group selected from thegroup consisting of acrylate, substituted acrylate, methacrylate,styrene, acrylamide, methacrylamide, allyl ester, allyl ether, vinylester, vinyl ether, fumarate, maleate, maleimide and vinyl nitrile; andmore preferably also R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ all represent hydrogen.

In another preferred embodiment of the polymerizable co-initiator havingFormula (II), R1 and R² independently represent methyl or ethyl and R⁸includes a polymerizable ethylenically unsatured functional groupselected from the group consisting of acrylate, substituted acrylate,methacrylate, styrene, acrylamide, methacrylamide, allyl ester, allylether, vinyl ester, vinyl ether, fumarate, maleate, maleimide and vinylnitrile; and more preferably also R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ all representhydrogen.

In a more preferred embodiment, the polymerizable co-initiatorcorresponds to Formula (III):

-   R¹ and R² are independently selected from the group consisting of    methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl;-   L represents a divalent linking group including at least one carbon    atom; and-   R¹⁰ represents hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl.

In a preferred embodiment the divalent linking group L includes 1 to 30carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms and most preferably 3to 6 atoms.

The polymerizable co-initiator may contain two, three or morepolymerizable ethylenically unsatured functional groups independentlyselected from the group consisting of acrylate, substituted acrylate,methacrylate, styrene, acrylamide, methacrylamide, allyl ester, allylether, vinyl ester, vinyl ether, fumarate, maleate, maleimide and vinylnitrile.

The polymerizable co-initiator may also contain more than one tertiaryamine functional group, preferably the second or third tertiary aminefunctional group is also an aromatic tertiary amine, most preferably adialkylamino benzoic acid derivative.

Suitable polymerizable co-initiators are given below in Table 5 withoutbeing limited thereto.

TABLE 5 COINI-1 

COINI-2 

COINI-3 

COINI-4 

COINI-5 

COINI-6 

COINI-7 

COINI-8 

COINI-9 

COINI-10

COINI-11

COINI-12

COINI-13

COINI-14

COINI-15

COINI-16

COINI-17

COINI-18

COINI-19

COINI-20

COINI-21

The radiation curable compositions and inkjet ink include thepolymerizable co-initiator preferably in an amount of 0.1 to 50 wt %,more preferably in an amount of 0.5 to 25 wt %, most preferably in anamount of 1 to 10 wt % of the total weight of the radiation curablecomposition or inkjet ink.

Colorants

The colorant is preferably a pigment or a polymeric dye. In foodpackaging applications, low molecular weight dyes, e.g. smaller than1000 Dalton, can still migrate into the food or be extracted by the foodgiving undesired coloration of the food, or even worse allergicreactions after consuming the solid or liquid food. Most preferably thecolorant is a pigment.

The pigments may be black, white, cyan, magenta, yellow, red, orange,violet, blue, green, brown, mixtures thereof, and the like. This colourpigment may be chosen from those disclosed by HERBST, Willy, et al.Industrial Organic Pigments, Production, Properties, Applications. 3rdedition. Wiley—VCH, 2004. ISBN 3527305769.

Particular preferred pigments are C.I. Pigment Yellow 1, 3, 10, 12, 13,14, 17, 55, 65, 73, 74, 75, 83, 93, 97, 109, 111, 120, 128, 138, 139,150, 151, 154, 155, 175, 180, 181, 185, 194 and 213.

Particular preferred pigments are C.I. Pigment Red 17, 22, 23, 41, 48:1,48:2, 49:1, 49:2, 52:1, 57:1, 81:1, 81:3, 88, 112, 122, 144, 146, 149,169, 170, 175, 176, 184, 185, 188, 202, 206, 207, 210, 216, 221, 248,251, 254, 255, 264, 266, 270 and 272.

Particular preferred pigments are C.I. Pigment Violet 1, 2, 19, 23, 32,37 and 39.

Particular preferred pigments are C.I. Pigment Blue 15:1, 15:2, 15:3,15:4, 15:6, 16, 56, 61 and (bridged) aluminium phthalocyanine pigments.

Particular preferred pigments are C.I. Pigment Orange 5, 13, 16, 34, 40,43, 59, 66, 67, 69, 71 and 73.

Particular preferred pigments are C.I. Pigment Green 7 and 36.

Particular preferred pigments are C.I. Pigment Brown 6 and 7.

Suitable pigments include mixed crystals of the above particularpreferred pigments. A commercially available example is CinquasiaMagenta RT-355-D from Ciba Specialty Chemicals.

Carbon black is preferred as a black pigment. Suitable black pigmentsinclude carbon blacks such as Pigment Black 7 (e.g. Carbon Black MA8®from MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL), REGAL® 400R, MOGUL® L, ELFTEX® 320 from CABOTCo., or Carbon Black FW18, Special Black 250, Special Black 350, SpecialBlack 550, PRINTEX® 25, PRINTEX® 35, PRINTEX® 55, PRINTEX® 90, PRINTEX®150T from DEGUSSA. Additional examples of suitable pigments aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,133 (XEROX).

It is also possible to make mixtures of pigments. For example, for someinkjet ink applications, a neutral black inkjet ink is preferred and canbe obtained e.g. by mixing a black pigment and a cyan pigment into theink. Also pigments may be combined to enlarge the colour gamut of an inkset. The inkjet application may also require one or more spot colours.Silver and gold are often desired colours for making a product moreattractive by giving it an exclusive appearance.

Also non-organic pigments may be present in the inks. Suitable pigmentsare C.I. Pigment Metal 1, 2 and 3. Illustrative examples of theinorganic pigments include titanium oxide, barium sulphate, calciumcarbonate, zinc oxide, lead sulphate, yellow lead, zinc yellow, red ironoxide (III), cadmium red, ultramarine blue, Prussian blue, chromiumoxide green, cobalt green, amber, titanium black and synthetic ironblack. However, care should be taken to prevent migration and extractionof heavy metals in food application. In the preferred embodiment nopigments are used which contain a heavy metal selected from the groupconsisting of arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium.

Generally pigments are stabilized in the dispersion medium by dispersingagents, such as polymeric dispersants or surfactants. However, thesurface of the pigments can be modified to obtain so-called“self-dispersible” or “self-dispersing” pigments, i.e. pigments that aredispersible in the dispersion medium without dispersants.

Pigment particles in inkjet ink should be sufficiently small to permitfree flow of the ink through the inkjet-printing device, especially atthe ejecting nozzles. It is also desirable to use small particles formaximum colour strength and to slow down sedimentation.

The numeric average pigment particle size is preferably between 0.050and 1 μm, more preferably between 0.070 and 0.300 μm and particularlypreferably between 0.080 and 0.200 μm. Most preferably, the numericaverage pigment particle size is no larger than 0.150 μm. However, theaverage pigment particle size for white inkjet inks including, forexample, a titanium dioxide pigment, is preferably between 0.100 and0.300 μm. An average particle size smaller than 0.050 μm is lessdesirable for decreased light-fastness, but mainly also because verysmall pigment particles or individual pigment molecules thereof maystill be extracted in food packaging applications.

The pigment is preferably used in a pigment dispersion used forpreparing the inkjet inks in an amount of 10 to 40 wt %, more preferablyof 15 to 30 wt % based on the total weight of the pigment dispersion. Inan radiation curable inkjet ink the pigment is preferably present in anamount of 0.1 to 20 wt %, preferably 1 to 10 wt % based on the totalweight of the inkjet ink.

Dispersants

The dispersant is preferably a polymeric dispersant. Typical polymericdispersants are copolymers of two monomers but may contain three, four,five or even more monomers. The properties of polymeric dispersantsdepend on both the nature of the monomers and their distribution in thepolymer. Suitable copolymeric dispersants have the following polymercompositions:

-   -   statistically polymerized monomers (e.g. monomers A and B        polymerized into ABBAABAB);    -   alternating polymerized monomers (e.g. monomers A and B        polymerized into ABABABAB);    -   gradient (tapered) polymerized monomers (e.g. monomers A and B        polymerized into AAABAABBABBB);    -   block copolymers (e.g. monomers A and B polymerized into        AAAAABBBBBB) wherein the block length of each of the blocks (2,        3, 4, 5 or even more) is important for the dispersion capability        of the polymeric dispersant;    -   graft copolymers (graft copolymers consist of a polymeric        backbone with polymeric side chains attached to the backbone);        and    -   mixed forms of these polymers, e.g. blocky gradient copolymers.

Polymeric dispersants may have different polymer architecture includinglinear, comb/branched, star, dendritic (including dendrimers andhyperbranched polymers). A general review on the architecture ofpolymers is given by ODIAN, George, Principles of Polymerization, 4thedition, Wiley-Interscience, 2004, p. 1-18.

Comb/branched polymers have side branches of linked monomer moleculesprotruding from various central branch points along the main polymerchain (at least 3 branch points).

Star polymers are branched polymers in which three or more eithersimilar or different linear homopolymers or copolymers are linkedtogether to a single core.

Dendritic polymers include the classes of dendrimers and hyperbranchedpolymers. In dendrimers, with well-defined mono-disperse structures, allbranch points are used (multi-step synthesis), while hyperbranchedpolymers have a plurality of branch points and multifunctional branchesthat lead to further branching with polymer growth (one-steppolymerization process).

Suitable polymeric dispersants may be prepared via addition orcondensation type polymerizations. Polymerization methods include thosedescribed by ODIAN, George, Principles of Polymerization, 4th edition,Wiley-Interscience, 2004, p. 39-606.

Addition polymerization methods include free radical polymerization(FRP) and controlled polymerization techniques. Suitable controlledradical polymerization methods include:

-   -   RAFT: reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer;    -   ATRP: atom transfer radical polymerization    -   MADIX: reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer process,        using a transfer active xanthate;    -   Catalytic chain transfer (e.g. using cobalt complexes);    -   Nitroxide (e.g. TEMPO) mediated polymerizations;

Other suitable controlled polymerization methods include:

-   -   GTP: group transfer polymerization;    -   Living cationic (ring-opening) polymerizations;    -   Anionic co-ordination insertion ring-opening polymerization; and    -   Living anionic (ring-opening) polymerization.

Reversible addition-fragmentation transfer (RAFT): controlledpolymerization occurs via rapid chain transfer between growing polymerradicals and dormant polymer chains. A review article on RAFT synthesisof dispersants with different polymeric geometry is given in QUINN J. F.et al., Facile Synthesis of comb, star, and graft polymers viareversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization,Journal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry, Vol. 40,2956-2966, 2002.

Group transfer polymerization (GTP): the method of GTP used forsynthesis of AB block copolymers is disclosed by SPINELLI, Harry J, GTPand its use in water based pigment dispersants and emulsion stabilisers,Proc. of 20th Int. Conf. Org. Coat. Sci. Technol., New Platz, N.Y.,State Univ. N.Y., Inst. Mater. Sci. p. 511-518.

The synthesis of dendritic polymers is described in the literature. Thesynthesis of dendrimers in NEWCOME, G. R., et al. Dendritic Molecules:Concepts, Synthesis, Perspectives. VCH: WEINHEIM, 2001. Hyperbranchingpolymerization is described by BURCHARD, W. Solution properties ofbranched macromolecules. Advances in Polymer Science. 1999, vol. 143,no. II, p. 113-194. Hyperbranched materials can be obtained bypolyfunctional polycondensation as disclosed by FLORY, P. J. Molecularsize distribution in three-dimensional polymers. VI. Branched polymercontaining A-R-Bf-1-type units. Journal of the American ChemicalSociety. 1952, vol. 74, p. 2718-1723.

Living cationic polymerizations is e.g. used for the synthesis ofpolyvinyl ethers as disclosed in WO 2005/012444 (CANON), US 20050197424(CANON) and US 20050176846 (CANON). Anionic co-ordination ring-openingpolymerization is e.g. used for the synthesis of polyesters based onlactones. Living anionic ring-opening polymerization is e.g. used forthe synthesis of polyethylene oxide macromonomers.

Free radical Polymerization (FRP) proceeds via a chain mechanism, whichbasically consists of four different types of reactions involving freeradicals: (1) radical generation from non-radical species (initiation),(2) radical addition to a substituted alkene (propagation), (3) atomtransfer and atom abstraction reactions (chain transfer and terminationby disproportionation), and (4) radical-radical recombination reactions(termination by combination).

Polymeric dispersants having several of the above polymer compositionsare disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,908 (HP), U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,197(DU PONT) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,528,557 (XEROX).

Suitable statistical copolymeric dispersants are disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,648,405 (DU PONT), U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,832 (FUJI XEROX), U.S. Pat.No. 6,262,207 (3M), US 20050004262 (KAO) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,852,777(KAO).

Suitable alternating copolymeric dispersants are described in US20030017271 (AKZO NOBEL).

Suitable block copolymeric dispersants have been described in numerouspatents, especially block copolymeric dispersants containing hydrophobicand hydrophilic blocks. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,859,113 (DU PONT)discloses AB block copolymers and U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,306 (DU PONT)discloses ABC block copolymers.

Suitable graft copolymeric dispersants are described in CA 2157361 (DUPONT) (hydrophobic polymeric backbone and hydrophilic side chains);other graft copolymeric dispersants are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,652,634 (LEXMARK), U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,715 (DU PONT).

Suitable branched copolymeric dispersants are described U.S. Pat. No.6,005,023 (DU PONT), U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,019 (KAO), U.S. Pat. No.6,127,453 (KODAK).

Suitable dendritic copolymeric dispersants are described in e.g. U.S.Pat. No. 6,518,370 (3M), U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,896 (3M), US 2004102541(LEXMARK), U.S. Pat. No. 6,649,138 (QUANTUM DOT), US 2002256230 (BASF),EP 1351759 A (EFKA ADDITIVES) and EP 1295919 A (KODAK).

Suitable designs of polymeric dispersants for inkjet inks are disclosedin SPINELLI, Harry J., Polymeric Dispersants in Inkjet technology,Advanced Materials, 1998, Vol. 10, no. 15, p. 1215-1218.

The monomers and/or oligomers used to prepare the polymeric dispersantcan be any monomer and/or oligomer found in the Polymer Handbook Vol.1+2, 4th edition, edited by J. BRANDRUP et al., Wiley-Interscience,1999.

Polymers useful as pigment dispersants include naturally occurringpolymers, and specific examples thereof include: proteins, such as glue,gelatine, casein, and albumin; naturally occurring rubbers, such as gumarabic and tragacanth; glucosides such as saponin; alginic acid andalginic acid derivatives, such as propylene glycol alginate; andcellulose derivatives, such as methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl celluloseand ethylhydroxy cellulose; wool and silk, and synthetic polymers.

Suitable examples of monomers for synthesizing polymeric dispersantsinclude: acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid (or there salts),maleic anhydride, alkyl(meth)acrylates (linear, branched and cycloalkyl)such as methyl(meth)acrylate, n-butyl(meth)acrylate,tert-butyl(meth)acrylate, cyclohexyl(meth)acrylate, and2-ethylhexyl(meth)acrylate; aryl(meth)acrylates such asbenzyl(meth)acrylate, and phenyl(meth)acrylate;hydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylates such as hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylate, andhydroxypropyl(meth)acrylate; (meth)acrylates with other types offunctionalities (e.g. oxiranes, amino, fluoro, polyethylene oxide,phosphate substituted) such as glycidyl (meth)acrylate,dimethylaminoethyl(meth)acrylate, trifluoroethyl acrylate,methoxypolyethyleneglycol (meth)acrylate, and tripropyleneglycol(meth)acrylate phosphate; allyl derivatives such as allyl glycidylether; styrenics such as styrene, 4-methylstyrene, 4-hydroxystyrene,4-acetostyrene, and styrene sulfonic acid; (meth)acrylonitrile;(meth)acrylamides (including N-mono and N,N-disubstituted) such asN-benzyl (meth)acrylamide; maleimides such as N-phenyl maleimide; vinylderivatives such as vinylcaprolactam, vinylpyrrolidone, vinylimidazole,vinylnapthalene, and vinyl halides; vinylethers such as vinylmethylether; vinylesters of carboxylic acids such as vinylacetate,vinylbutyrate, and vinyl benzoate.

Suitable condensation type polymers include polyurethanes, polyamides,polycarbonates, polyethers, polyureas, polyimines, polyimides,polyketones, polyesters, polysiloxanes, phenol-formaldehydes,urea-formaldehydes, melamine-formaldehydes, polysulfides, polyacetals orcombinations thereof.

Suitable copolymeric dispersants are acrylic acid/acrylonitrilecopolymers, vinyl acetate/acrylic ester copolymers, acrylic acid/acrylicester copolymers, styrene/acrylic acid copolymers, styrene/methacrylicacid copolymers, styrene/methacrylic acid/acrylic ester copolymers,styrene/α-methylstyrene/acrylic acid copolymers,styrene/α-methylstyrene/acrylic acid/acrylic ester copolymers,styrene/maleic acid copolymers, styrene/maleic anhydride copolymers,vinylnaphthalene/acrylic acid copolymers, vinylnapthalene/maleic acidcopolymers, vinyl acetate/ethylene copolymers, vinyl acetate/fattyacid/ethylene copolymers, vinyl acetate/maleic ester copolymers, vinylacetate/crotonic acid copolymers and vinyl acetate/acrylic acidcopolymers.

Suitable chemistries of copolymeric dispersants also include:

-   -   Copolymers which are the product of a condensation process of        poly(ethylene imine) with a carboxylic acid terminated polyester        (made by addition polymerization); and    -   Copolymers which are the product of a reaction of a        multifunctional isocyanate with:        -   a compound monosubstituted with a group that is capable of            reacting with an isocyanate, e.g. polyester;        -   a compound containing two groups capable of reacting with an            isocyanate (cross-linker); and/or        -   a compound with at least one basic ring nitrogen and a group            that is capable of reacting with an isocyanate group.

A detailed list of suitable polymeric dispersants is disclosed by MCCUTCHEON, Functional Materials, North American Edition, Glen Rock, N.J.:Manufacturing Confectioner Publishing Co., 1990, p. 110-129.

Suitable pigment stabilisers are also disclosed in DE 19636382 (BAYER),U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,802 (XEROX), U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,993 (DU PONT), WO96/12772 (XAAR) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,689 (BASF).

One polymeric dispersant or a mixture of two or more polymericdispersants may be present to improve the dispersion stability further.Sometimes surfactants can also be used as pigment dispersants, thus acombination of a polymeric dispersant with a surfactant is alsopossible.

The polymeric dispersant can be non-ionic, anionic or cationic innature; salts of the ionic dispersants can also be used.

The polymeric dispersant has preferably a polymerization degree DPbetween 5 and 1,000, more preferably between 10 and 500 and mostpreferably between 10 and 100.

The polymeric dispersant has preferably a number average molecularweight Mn between 500 and 30,000, more preferably between 1,500 and10,000.

The polymeric dispersant has preferably a weight average molecularweight Mw smaller than 100,000, more preferably smaller than 50,000 andmost preferably smaller than 30,000.

The polymeric dispersant has preferably a polymeric dispersity PDsmaller than 2, more preferably smaller than 1.75 and most preferablysmaller than 1.5.

Commercial examples of polymeric dispersants are the following:

-   -   DISPERBYK™ dispersants available from BYK CHEMIE GMBH;    -   SOLSPERSE™ dispersants available from NOVEON;    -   TEGO™ DISPERS dispersants from DEGUSSA;    -   EDAPLAN™ dispersants from MUNZING CHEMIE;    -   ETHACRYL™ dispersants from LYONDELL;    -   GANEX™ dispersants from ISP;    -   DISPEX™ and EFKA™ dispersants from CIBA SPECIALTY CHEMICALS INC;    -   DISPONER™ dispersants from DEUCHEM; and    -   JONCRYL™ dispersants from JOHNSON POLYMER.

Particularly preferred polymeric dispersants include SOLSPERSE™dispersants from NOVEON, EFKA™ dispersants from CIBA SPECIALTY CHEMICALSINC and DISPERBYK™ dispersants from BYK CHEMIE GMBH.

Particularly preferred dispersants for UV-curable pigmented dispersionsare SOLSPERSE™ 32000, 35000 and 39000 dispersants from NOVEON.

The polymeric dispersant is preferably used in an amount of 2 to 600 wt%, more preferably 5 to 200 wt % based on the weight of the pigment.

Dispersion Synergists

The dispersion synergist usually consists of an anionic part and acationic part. The anionic part of the dispersion synergist exhibiting acertain molecular similarity with the colour pigment and the cationicpart of the dispersion synergist consists of one or more protons and/orcations to compensate the charge of the anionic part of the dispersionsynergist.

The synergist is preferably added in a smaller amount than the polymericdispersant(s). The ratio of polymeric dispersant/dispersion synergistdepends upon the pigment and should be determined experimentally.Typically the ratio wt % polymeric dispersant/wt % dispersion synergistis selected between 2:1 to 100:1, preferably between 2:1 and 20:1.

Suitable dispersion synergists that are commercially available includeSOLSPERSE™ 5000 and SOLSPERSE™ 22000 from NOVEON.

Particular preferred pigments for the magenta ink used are adiketopyrrolo-pyrrole pigment or a quinacridone pigment. Suitabledispersion synergists include those disclosed in pending European PatentApplications EP05111360 and EP05111358.

In dispersing C.I. Pigment Blue 15:3, the use of a sulfonatedCu-phthalocyanine dispersion synergist, e.g. SOLSPERSE™ 5000 from NOVEONis preferred. Suitable dispersion synergists for yellow inkjet inksinclude those disclosed in pending European Patent ApplicationEP05111357.

Inhibitors

The first radiation curable composition and curable inkjet inks maycontain a polymerization inhibitor. Suitable polymerization inhibitorsinclude phenol type antioxidants, hindered amine light stabilizers,phosphor type antioxidants, hydroquinone monomethyl ether commonly usedin (meth)acrylate monomers, and hydroquinone, t-butylcatechol,pyrogallol may also be used.

Suitable commercial inhibitors are, for example, SUMILIZER™ GA-80,SUMILIZER™ GM and SUMILIZER™ GS produced by Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.;GENORAD™ 16, GENORAD™ 18 and GENORAD™ 20 from Rahn AG; IRGASTAB™ UV10and IRGASTAB™ UV22, TINUVIN™ 460 and CGS20 from Ciba SpecialtyChemicals; FLOORSTAB™ UV range (UV-1, UV-2, UV-5 and UV-8) fromKromachem Ltd, ADDITOL™ S range (S100, 5110, 5120 and 5130) from CytecSurface Specialties.

However, most preferably the inhibitor is a polymerizable inhibitor.

Since excessive addition of these polymerization inhibitors will lowerthe ink sensitivity to curing, it is preferred that the amount capableof preventing polymerization is determined prior to blending. The amountof a polymerization inhibitor is preferably lower than 2 wt % of thetotal ink.

Surfactants

The first radiation curable composition and curable inkjet inks maycontain at least one surfactant. The surfactant can be anionic,cationic, non-ionic, or zwitter-ionic and is usually added in a totalquantity less than 20 wt % based on the total weight of the inkjet inkand particularly in a total less than 10 wt % based on the total weightof the inkjet ink. A combination of surfactants may be used.

The surfactant is preferably a fluorinated or silicone compound,preferably a cross-linkable or polymerizable surfactant is used.Polymerizable monomers having surface-active effects include siliconemodified acrylates, silicone modified methacrylates, acrylatedsiloxanes, polyether modified acrylic modified siloxanes, fluorinatedacrylates, and fluorinated methacrylates. Polymerizable monomers havingsurface-active effects can be mono-, di-, tri- or higher functional(meth)acrylates or mixtures thereof.

Preparation of Radiation Curable Compositions

The average particle size and distribution is an important feature forinkjet inks. The inkjet ink may be prepared by precipitating or millingthe pigment in the dispersion medium in the presence of the dispersant.

Mixing apparatuses may include a pressure kneader, an open kneader, aplanetary mixer, a dissolver, and a Dalton Universal Mixer. Suitablemilling and dispersion apparatuses are a ball mill, a pearl mill, acolloid mill, a high-speed disperser, double rollers, a bead mill, apaint conditioner, and triple rollers. The dispersions may also beprepared using ultrasonic energy.

Many different types of materials may be used as milling media, such asglasses, ceramics, metals, and plastics. In a preferred embodiment, thegrinding media can include particles, preferably substantially sphericalin shape, e.g. beads consisting essentially of a polymeric resin oryttrium stabilized zirconium oxide beads.

In the process of mixing, milling and dispersion, each process isperformed with cooling to prevent build up of heat, and as much aspossible under light conditions in which actinic radiation has beensubstantially excluded.

The inkjet ink may contain more than one pigment, and may be preparedusing separate dispersions for each pigment, or alternatively severalpigments may be mixed and co-milled in preparing the dispersion.

The dispersion process can be carried out in a continuous, batch orsemi-batch mode.

The preferred amounts and ratios of the ingredients of the mill grindwill vary widely depending upon the specific materials and the intendedapplications. The contents of the milling mixture include the mill grindand the milling media. The mill grind includes pigment, polymericdispersant and a liquid carrier. For inkjet inks, the pigment is usuallypresent in the mill grind at 1 to 50 wt %, excluding the milling media.The weight ratio of pigment over polymeric dispersant is 20:1 to 1:2.

The milling time can vary widely and depends upon the pigment,mechanical means and residence conditions selected, the initial anddesired final particle size, etc. In a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, pigment dispersions with an average particle size ofless than 100 nm may be prepared.

After milling is completed, the milling media is separated from themilled particulate product (in either a dry or liquid dispersion form)using conventional separation techniques, such as by filtration, sievingthrough a mesh screen, and the like. Often the sieve is built into themill, e.g. for a bead mill. The milled pigment concentrate is preferablyseparated from the milling media by filtration.

In general it is desirable to make the inkjet inks in the form of aconcentrated mill grind, which is subsequently diluted to theappropriate concentration for use in the inkjet printing system. Thistechnique permits preparation of a greater quantity of pigmented inkfrom the equipment. By dilution, the inkjet ink is adjusted to thedesired viscosity, surface tension, colour, hue, saturation density, andprint area coverage for the particular application.

EXAMPLES

Materials

All materials used in the following examples were readily available fromstandard sources such as Aldrich Chemical Co. (Belgium) and Acros(Belgium) unless otherwise specified. The water used was deionizedwater.

RT-355-D is an abbreviation used for CINQUASIA™ Magenta RT-355-D, aquinacridone pigment from CIBA SPECIALTY CHEMICALS.

-   PY150 is an abbreviation used for CHROMOPHTAL™ Yellow LA2, a C.I.    Pigment Yellow 150 from CIBA SPECIALTY CHEMICALS.-   PB15:4 is an abbreviation used for HOSTAPERM™ Blue P-BFS, a C.I.    Pigment Blue 15:4 pigment from CLARIANT.

S35000 is an abbreviation for SOLSPERSE™ 35000, apolyethyleneimine-polyester hyperdispersant from NOVEON. S39000 is anabbreviation for SOLSPERSE™ 39000, a polyethyleneimine-polyesterhyperdispersant from NOVEON. TEGO™ Dispers 681 UV is a dispersantavailable from DEGUSSA.

S1 is BARLO™ XT polymethylmethacrylate substrate from BARLO.

-   S2 is Biprint blanc/couleur 650 gr, a corona treated, polypropylene    board available from ANTALIS.-   S3 is PRIPLAK™ Classic an antistatic and corona treated    polypropylene substrate from PRIPLAK.

BYK™ UV3510 is a polyethermodified polydimethylsiloxane wetting agentfrom BYK CHEMIE GMBH.

-   BYK™-333 is a surfactant from BYK CHEMIE GMBH.-   BYK333SOL is a 1% by weight solution of BYK™-333 in VEEA.-   BYK333SOL2 is a 1% by weight solution of BYK™-333 in DPGDA.-   SILWET™ L7602 is a polyalkyene oxide modified dimethyl polysiloxane    surfactant from OSI SPECIALITIES BENELUX NV.

GENORAD™ 16 is a polymerization inhibitor from RAHN AG.

-   GENOCURE™ EPD is ethyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate from RAHN AG.-   DAROCUR™ ITX is 2-isopropyl isothioxanthone, a photo-initiator    available from CIBA SPECIALTY CHEMICALS.-   DAROCUR™ TPO is 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl-diphenyl-phosphineoxide, a    photoinitiator available from CIBA SPECIALTY CHEMICALS.-   IRGACURE™ 127 is    2-Hydroxy-1-{4-[4-(2-hydroxy-2-methyl-propionyl)-benzyl]-phenyl}-2-methyl-propan-1-one,    a photo-initiator available from CIBA SPECIALTY CHEMICALS.-   R GEN 1130 is bis(p-tolyl)iodonium hexafluorophosphate, a    photo-initiator available from CHITEC, Taiwan.-   CAT 006 is a cycloaliphatic epoxy resin available from CYTEC Surface    Specialties, now sold as UVACURE™ 1503.

DPGDA is dipropyleneglycoldiacrylate available under the trade name ofSARTOMER™ SR508 from SARTOMER.

-   SR399™ LV is a low viscosity dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate from    SARTOMER.-   SR272™ is triethylene glycol diacrylate from SARTOMER.-   VEEA is 2-(vinylethoxy)ethyl acrylate, a difunctional monomer    available from NIPPON SHOKUBAI, Japan.-   DEGDVE is diethylene glycol divinylether available from BASF.    Measurement Methods    1. Viscosity

The viscosity of the inkjet inks was measured using a Brookfield DV-II+viscometer at 25° C. and shear rate of 4 RPM.

2. Average Particle Size of Concentrated Pigment Dispersion (Malvern)

The average particle size of pigment particles in concentrated pigmentdispersions was determined by photon correlation spectroscopy at awavelength of 633 nm with a 4 mW HeNe laser on a diluted sample of thepigmented inkjet ink. The particle size analyzer used was a MALVERN™nano-S available from Goffin-Meyvis.

The sample was prepared by addition of one drop of ink to a cuvetcontaining 1.5 mL water and mixed until a homogenous sample wasobtained. The measured particle size is the average value of 3consecutive measurements consisting of 6 runs of 20 seconds. For goodink jet characteristics (jetting characteristics and print quality) theaverage particle size of the dispersed particles is preferably below 150nm.

3. Adhesion

De adhesion is evaluated by a cross-cut test according toISO2409:1992(E). Paints. International standard. 1992-08-15. using aBraive No. 1536 Cross Cut Tester from BRAIVE INSTRUMENTS with spacing ofa 1 mm between cuts and using a weight of 600 g, in combination with aTESATAPE™ 4104 PVC tape.

The evaluation was made in accordance with the classification describedbelow.

Classification:

-   0=The edges of the cuts are completely smooth: none of the squares    of the lattice is detached (=perfect adhesion).-   1=Detachment of small flakes of the coating at the intersections of    the cuts. A cross-cut area not greater than 5% is affected.-   2=The coating has flaked along the edges and/or at the intersections    of the cuts. A cross-cut area greater than 5%, but not significantly    greater than 15%, is affected.-   3=The coating has flaked along the edges of the cuts partly or    wholly in large ribbons, and/or it has flaked partly or wholly on    different parts of the squares. A cross-cut area significantly    greater than 15%, but not significantly greater than 35%, is    affected.-   4=The coating has flaked along the edges of the cuts in large    ribbons, and/or some of the squares has detached partly or wholly. A    cross-cut area significantly greater than 35%, but not significantly    greater than 65%, is affected.-   5=Any degree of flaking that cannot even be classified by    classification 4    4. Surface Tension

The surface tension of the inkjet inks was measured with a KRÜSStensiometer K9 at 25° C. after 60 seconds.

Example 1

This example illustrates how a cationic primer with a cationicallypolymerizable compound having an acrylate group can be advantageouslyused for improving the adhesion of free radical polymerizable inks ondifficult substrates for free radical polymerizable inks such as e.g. apolypropylene substrate.

Preparation of Free Radical Polymerizable Magenta Inkjet Inks MR1 andMR2

A concentrated pigment dispersion CMR1 was made by mixing 533.3 g of a30 wt % solution of the polymeric dispersant in SOLSPERSE™ 39000 inVEEA, 16.0 g of a 50% solution in VEEA of the stabilizer GENORAD™ 16 and160.0 g of RT355D for 40 minutes using a DISPERLUX™ YELLOW075 (fromDISPERLUX S.A.R.L., Luxembourg) and subsequently milling this mixture ina Eiger Lab Bead mill (from EIGER TORRANCE Ltd.) usingyttrium-stabilized zirconium oxide-beads of 0.4 mm diameter (“high wearresistant zirconia grinding media” from TOSOH Co.). The bead mill isfilled for 52% with the grinding beads and water-cooled during millingat 4250 rpm for 280 minutes. After milling the dispersion was separatedfrom the beads using a filter cloth. The concentrated pigment dispersionCMR1 had an average particles size of 104 nm measured with a MALVERN™nano-S particle size analyzer.

A concentrated pigment dispersion CMR2 was made by mixing 86.3 g ofDPGDA′ 466.7 g of a 30 wt % solution of the polymeric dispersant inSOLSPERSE™ 35000 in DPGDA, 7.0 g of GENORAD™ 16 and 140 g of CinquasiaMAGENTA™ RT355D for 25 minutes using a DISPERLUX™ YELLOW075 (fromDISPERLUX S.A.R.L., Luxembourg) and subsequently milling this mixture ina Eiger Lab Bead mill (from EIGER TORRANCE Ltd.) usingyttrium-stabilized zirconium oxide-beads of 0.4 mm diameter (“high wearresistant zirconia grinding media” from TOSOH Co.). The bead mill isfilled for 50% with the grinding beads and water-cooled during millingat 4250 rpm for 300 minutes. After milling the dispersion was separatedfrom the beads using a filter cloth. The concentrated pigment dispersionCMR2 had an average particles size of 115 nm measured with a MALVERN™nano-S particle size analyzer.

The curable magenta inkjet inks MR1 and MR2 were both prepared in thesame manner from the concentrated pigment dispersion CMR1 respectivelyCMR2 by adding the remaining components under stirring to obtain acomposition as shown in Table 6.

TABLE 6 wt % of MR1 MR2 RT355D 3.50 3.50 S35000 — 3.50 S39000 3.50 —VEEA 70.29 — SR399 ™ LV 20.00 — DPGDA — 76.95 GENOCURE ™ EPD — 5.00IRGACURE ™ 127 2.50 — DAROCUR ™ ITX — 5.00 DAROCUR ™ TPO — 4.95GENORAD ™ 16 0.18 1.00 BYK ™ 333 0.03 — BYK ™ 3510 — 0.10

The magenta inkjet ink MR1 contains VEEA as a cationically polymerizablecompound having at least one (meth)acrylate group, which can beadvantageously used to lower the viscosity of an ink. The viscosity ofthe inkjet inks MR1 and MR2 was 17 mPa·s and 23 mPa·s respectively.

Preparation of Primers

Three cationically polymerizable primers PC1 to PC3 and one free radicalpolymerizable primer PR1 were prepared according to Table 7. In theprimers PC2 and PC3 the cationically polymerizable compound having atleast one (meth)acrylate group, VEEA, was replaced by a combination of adinvinylether and a diacrylate.

TABLE 7 wt % of PC1 PC2 PC3 PR1 VEEA 50.00 — — 76.50 SR272 ™ — 15.0025.00 — DEGDVE — 35.00 25.00 — SR399 ™ LV — — — 20.00 R GEN 1130 4.004.00 4.00 — UVACURE ™ 1503 44.90 44.90 44.90 — DAROCUR ™ ITX 1.00 1.001.00 — IRGACURE ™ 127 — — — 2.50 SILWET L7602 0.10 0.10 0.10 — BYK333SOL— — — 1.00

The primers were coated according to Table 9 on different substratesusing a bar coater and a 10 μm wired bar. Each coated layer was curedusing a Fusion DRSE-120 conveyer, equipped with a Fusion VPS/1600 lamp(D-bulb), which transported the samples under the UV lamp on a conveyerbelt at a speed of 20 m/min.

VEEA can be advantageously used to have a low viscous primer, hencemaking it a jettable composition. The primers PC1 and PR1 both had aviscosity of about 8 mPa·s, while, for example, the primer PC3 had aviscosity of 15 mPa·s.

Evaluation of Inkjet Inks MR1 and MR2

The free radical polymerizable inkjet inks MR1 and MR2 were evaluated bycoating them on different primed and unprimed substrates according toTable 9 using a bar coater and a 10 μm wired bar. Each coated ink layerwas cured using a Fusion DRSE-120 conveyer, equipped with a FusionVPS/1600 lamp (D-bulb), which transported the samples under the UV lampon a conveyer belt at a speed of 20 m/min.

TABLE 8 Substrate Sample No. Type Primer Ink Adhesion Comp-1 S1 PMMA —MR1 0 Comp-2 S1 PMMA PR1 MR2 0 Comp-3 S2 PP — MR1 3 Comp-4 S3 PP — MR1 5INV-1 S2 PP PC1 MR1 0 INV-2 S3 PP PC1 MR1 1 Comp-5 S2 PP PC2 MR1 5Comp-6 S2 PP PC3 MR1 4 Comp-7 S2 PP — MR2 5 Comp-8 S3 PP — MR2 5 INV-3S2 PP PC1 MR2 0 INV-4 S3 PP PC1 MR2 2

Table 9 shows that the free radical polymerizable inks MR1 and MR2adhere well on a polymethylmethacrylate substrate, either directly insample COMP-1 or through a free radical polymerizable primer PR1 insample COMP-2. However, the same inks exhibit poor adhesion on apolypropylene substrate (see samples COMP-3, COMP-4, COMP-7 and COMP-8).The inventive samples INV-1 to INV-4 show that the use of a monomerincluding a vinyl ether group and an acrylate group, i.e. VEEA, in acationically polymerizable primer PC1 delivered good adhesion resultsfor both inks MR1 and MR2. The samples COMP-5 and COMP-6 show that pooradhesion was obtained by replacement of the difunctional monomer VEEA bya combination of a dinvinylether monomer and a diacrylate monomer.

In addition a test was performed on a sample similar to sample INV-1 butwherein the primer was not cured before but after jetting the inkjet inkMR1. In the latter case no good adhesion was observed.

Example 2

This example illustrates how a free radical polymerizable primer with acationically polymerizable compound having an acrylate group can beadvantageously used for improving the adhesion of cationicallypolymerizable inks on difficult substrates for cationicallypolymerizable inks such as e.g. polymethylmethacrylate substrate.

Preparation of a Cationically Polymerizable Magenta Inkjet Inks MC1

A concentrated pigment dispersion CMC1 was made by mixing 266.7 g of a30 wt % solution of the polymeric dispersant in TEGO™ Dispers 681 UV inVEEA, 16.0 g of a 50% solution in VEEA of the stabilizer GENORAD™ 16 and80 g of RT355D for 40 minutes using a DISPERLUX™ YELLOW075 (fromDISPERLUX S.A.R.L., Luxembourg) and subsequently milling this mixture ina Eiger Lab Bead mill (from EIGER TORRANCE Ltd.) usingyttrium-stabilized zirconium oxide-beads of 0.4 mm diameter (“high wearresistant zirconia grinding media” from TOSOH Co.). The bead mill isfilled for 52% with the grinding beads and water-cooled during millingat 4250 rpm for 280 minutes. After milling the dispersion was separatedfrom the beads using a filter cloth. The concentrated pigment dispersionCMC1 had an average particles size of 115 nm measured with a MALVERN™nano-S particle size analyzer.

The curable magenta inkjet ink MC1 was prepared from the concentratedpigment dispersion CMC1 by adding the remaining components understirring to obtain a composition as shown in Table 9.

TABLE 9 wt % of MC1 Pigment dispersion CMC1 40.00 VEEA 18.40 R GEN 11304.00 UVACURE ™ 1503 36.50 DAROCUR ™ ITX 1.00 SILWET L7602 0.10

The magenta inkjet ink MC1 contains VEEA as a cationically polymerizablecompound having at least one (meth)acrylate group.

Preparation of Primers

Three free radical polymerizable primers PR1 to PR3 were preparedaccording to Table 10. The cationically polymerizable compound having atleast one (meth)acrylate group, VEEA, in the primers PR2 and PR3 wasreplaced by a combination of a dinvinylether and a diacrylate.

TABLE 10 wt % of PR1 PR2 PR3 VEEA 76.50 — — SR272 ™ — 15.00 25.00 DEGDVE— 35.00 25.00 SR399 ™ LV 20.00 20.00 20.00 IRGACURE ™ 127 2.50 2.50 2.50BYK333SOL 1.00 1.00 1.00

The primers were then coated according to Table 11 on a PMMA substrateusing a bar coater and a 10 μm wired bar. Each coated layer was curedusing a Fusion DRSE-120 conveyer, equipped with a Fusion VPS/1600 lamp(D-bulb), which transported the samples under the UV lamp on a conveyerbelt at a speed of 20 m/min.

Evaluation of Inkjet ink MC1

The cationically polymerizable inkjet ink MC1 was evaluated by coatingit on different primed and unprimed substrates according to Table 11using a bar coater and a 10 μm wired bar. Each coated ink layer wascured using a Fusion DRSE-120 conveyer, equipped with a Fusion VPS/1600lamp (D-bulb), which transported the samples under the UV lamp on aconveyer belt at a speed of 20 m/min.

TABLE 11 Substrate Sample No. Type Primer Adhesion COMP-9 S2 PP — 0COMP-10 S3 PP — 0 COMP-11 S1 PMMA — 5 INV-5 S1 PMMA PR1 0 COMP-12 S1PMMA PR2 5 COMP-13 S1 PMMA PR3 5

From Table 11 it is clear in samples COMP-9 to COMP-11 that the inkjetink MC1 adheres well to a polypropylene substrate, but not to apolymethylmethacrylate substrate. Only the free radical polymerizableprimer PR1 which contains VEEA in a substantial amount is capable ofimproving the adhesion. The free radical polymerizable primers PR2 andPR3, although containing a small amount of VEEA via the addition of thesurfactant BYK333SOL are incapable of improving the adhesion of the inkMC1 to a PMMA substrate.

Example 3

This example illustrates the applicability of the present invention inan inkjet inkset including a cationically polymerizable clear ink andthree free radical polymerizable inks: a magenta ink (M), a cyan ink (c)and a yellow ink (Y).

The cationically polymerizable primer PC1 of EXAMPLE 1 was used as thecolourless ink in the inkset. The curable colour inks were all preparedin the same manner as the ink MR2 of EXAMPLE 1 but now to obtain inkcompositions according to Table 12.

TABLE 12 in wt % of ink M C Y DPGDA 76.95 77.95 78.55 RT355D 3.50 — —PB15:4 — 3.00 — PY150 — — 2.70 S35000 3.50 3.00 2.70 GENOCURE ™ EPD 5.005.00 5.00 DAROCUR ™ ITX 5.00 5.00 5.00 DAROCUR ™ TPO 4.95 4.95 4.95BYK ™ UV 3510 0.10 0.10 0.10 GENORAD ™ 16 1.00 1.00 1.00

The physical properties of the colour inkjet inks in the curable inkjetink set are listed in Table 13.

TABLE 13 Physical properties M C Y Dimension viscosity at 25° C. 23 2017 mPa · s viscosity at 45° C. 11 9 9 mPa · s surface tension at 24.924.5 25.1 mN/m 25° C.

Each of the inks of the ink set was evaluated on the unprimedpolypropylene substrate S2 as used in sample COMP-3 and thepolypropylene substrate S2 primed as prepared and used in sample INV-1of EXAMPLE 1. The results are shown in Table 14.

TABLE 14 Adhesion for ink: Substrate Primer M C Y S2 — 5 5 3 S2 PC1 0 11

From Table 14, it is clear that the three free radical curable inks onlyadhere to a polypropylene substrate when it has been primed with thecationically polymerizable primer PC1 containing a cationicallypolymerizable compound having an acrylate group.

Example 4

This example illustrates that the cationically polymerizable compoundhaving an (meth)acrylate group should be present in the primer in asufficient amount to improve the adhesion of inkjet inks.

Preparation of Primers

The free radical polymerizable primers PR4 to PR10 were preparedaccording to Table 15 by replacing the cationically polymerizablecompound having at least one (meth)acrylate group, VEEA, in increasingamounts by DPGDA.

TABLE 15 wt % of: PR4 PR5 PR6 PR7 PR8 PR9 PR10 VEEA 74.5 60.0 50.0 40.030.0 20.0 10.0 DPGDA — 14.5 24.5 34.5 44.5 54.5 64.5 IRGACURE ™ 127  2.5 2.5  2.5  2.5  2.5  2.5  2.5 SARTOMER ™ 20.0 20.0 20.0 20.0 20.0 20.020.0 399LV BYK333SOL  3.0 — — — — — — BYK333SOL2 —  3.0  3.0  3.0  3.0 3.0  3.0Evaluation

The free radical polymerizable primers PR4 to PR10 were coated on thesubstrate S1 using a bar coater and a 10 μm wired bar. Each coated layerwas cured using a Fusion DRSE-120 conveyer, equipped with a FusionVPS/1600 lamp (D-bulb), which transported the samples under the UV lampon a conveyer belt at a speed of 20 m/min.

The adhesion of the primer to the substrate was tested in the same wayas tested for an ink.

The same magenta ink MC1 as used in EXAMPLE 2 was coated on each of theprepared samples and each sample was tested for adhesion of the ink tothe primed substrate. The results are shown in Table 16.

TABLE 16 Adhesion Adhesion wt % of the of the Sample Primer VEEA primerink MC1 INV-6 PR4 79 0 0 INV-7 PR5 63 0 0 INV-8 PR6 53 0 0 INV-9 PR7 420 0 INV-10 PR8 32 0 0 COMP-14 PR9 21 0 4 COMP-15 PR10 11 5 5

From Table 16, it is clear that the cationically polymerizable compoundhaving an (meth)acrylate group, i.e. VEEA, should be present in amountof at least 25 wt % based upon the total curable composition of theinkjet ink in order to improve the adhesion of the ink MC1.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will beapparent to those skilled in the art without departing the scope andspirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention,therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.

1. An inkjet printing method comprising the steps of: providing a firstradiation curable composition curable by a first polymerization processselected from free radical polymerization and cationic polymerization;applying a layer of the first radiation curable composition on asubstrate; curing the layer of the first radiation curable compositionusing the first polymerization process to form a cured layer; jettingonto the cured layer a second radiation curable composition curable by asecond polymerization process which is different from the firstpolymerization process, the second polymerization process selected fromfree radical polymerization and cationic polymerization; and curing thejetted second radiation curable composition with the secondpolymerization process; wherein the first radiation curable compositionincludes a cationically polymerizable compound including at least one(meth)acrylate group, and the cationically polymerizable compound ispresent in the first radiation curable composition in an amount of atleast 25 wt % based upon a total weight of the first radiation curablecomposition.
 2. The inkjet printing method according to claim 1, whereinthe cationically polymerizable compound including the at least one(meth)acrylate group is a radiation curable monomer represented byFormula (I):

wherein, R¹ represents hydrogen, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkylgroup; L represents a linking group including at least one carbon atom;X represents O, S, or NR² wherein R² has the same meaning as R¹; when X=NR², L and R² may form together a ring system; and n and mindependently represent a value from 1 to
 5. 3. The inkjet printingmethod according to claim 2, wherein R¹ represents hydrogen, Xrepresents O, and n represents a value of
 1. 4. The inkjet printingmethod according to claim 3, wherein the cationically polymerizablecompound including the at least one (meth)acrylate group is


5. The inkjet printing method according to claim 1, wherein the firstradiation curable composition is a white composition containing titaniumdioxide.
 6. The inkjet printing method according to claim 1, wherein thefirst radiation curable composition is prepared in-situ in, or at, aninkjet printer by the step of: adding one or more photoinitiators to acomposition including the cationically polymerizable compound includingthe at least one (meth)acrylate group.
 7. The inkjet printing methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the first radiation curable composition isapplied onto the substrate by a printing process selected from offsetprinting, flexographic printing, gravure printing, and screen printing.8. The inkjet printing method according to claim 1, wherein the firstradiation curable composition is jetted onto the substrate.